Ana comes indignantly to light.
ANA.
What does this mean?
Ottavio here and YOUR friend!
And you, father, have forgotten my name.
You are indeed turned to stone.
THE STATUE.
My dear: I am so much more admired in marble than I ever was in my own person that I have retained the shape the sculptor gave me.
He was one of the first men of his day: you must acknowledge that.
ANA.
Father! Vanity! personal vanity! from you!
THE STATUE.
Ah, you outlived that weakness, my daughter: you must be nearly 80 by this time.
I was cut off (by an accident) in my 64th year, and am considerably your junior in consequence.
Besides, my child, in this place, what our libertine friend here would call the farce of parental wisdom is dropped.
Regard me, I beg, as a fellow creature, not as a father.
ANA.
You speak as this villain speaks.
THE STATUE.
Juan is a sound thinker, Ana.
A bad fencer, but a sound thinker.
ANA. [horror creeping upon her] I begin to understand.
These are devils, mocking me.
I had better pray.
THE STATUE. [consoling her] No, no, no, my child: do not pray.
If you do, you will throw away the main advantage of this place.
Written over the gate here are the words
"Leave every hope behind, ye who enter."
Only think what a relief that is!
For what is hope?
A form of moral responsibility.
Here there is no hope, and consequently no duty, no work, nothing to be gained by praying, nothing to be lost by doing what you like.
Hell, in short, is a place where you have nothing to do but amuse yourself. [Don Juan sighs deeply].
You sigh, friend Juan; but if you dwelt in heaven, as I do, you would realize your advantages.
DON JUAN.
You are in good spirits to-day, Commander.
You are positively brilliant.
What is the matter?
THE STATUE.
I have come to a momentous decision, my boy.
But first, where is our friend the Devil?
I must consult him in the matter.
And Ana would like to make his acquaintance, no doubt.
ANA.
You are preparing some torment for me.
DON JUAN.
All that is superstition, Ana.
Reassure yourself.
Remember: the devil is not so black as he is painted.
THE STATUE.